Feathering blades of paddle and other wheels



(No Model.)

, A. H. CARPENTER.

PEATHERING BLADES 0F PADDLE AND OTHER WHEELS.

Patented Oct. 18, 1887- [O ig WITNESSES INVENTDR ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS H. CARPENTER, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

FEATHERING BLADES OF PADDLE AND OTHER WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,819, dated October 18, 1887.

Application filed August 28, 1886. Serial No. 212.131. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that I, AMOS H. CARPENTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Feathering Blades ofPaddle and other Wheels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fignrel represents a perspective view of my improved mechanism for feathering the blades of paddle wheels. Fig. 2 is aside elevation from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1.

The invention will first be described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the several figures, A represents the power-shaft mounted to revolve in the framework B.

0 represents the blade-arms, journaled at their centers in transverse apertures in the shaft A at right angles to each other, so that they can turn freely therein, longitudinal movement being prevented by collars on the arms at opposite sides of the shaft.

D E are the blades secured to the arms 0 at right angles to each other. Any suitable nu mber of arms and blades may be provided; but I have only shown two arms, 0, and two pairs of blades, D E.

The shaft A has an annular flange or collar, A, which forms one of its journals, having its bearing in the frame or vessels side B. The blade-arms O in paddle-wheels are preferably offset near the shaft A and curved at their outer ends, so that the blades will be spoonshaped, to better act in the water. Each bladearm 0 is provided near the shaft A with a crank or lever, m, to each of which is connected the outer end of an operating-rod, K, which rods extend inward parallel with the shaft and pass through the collar or flange B, so that as the shaft revolves the rods will be carried around with it, for a purpose to be presently described.

G and H represent two rings, the hubs of which are loosely mounted on the inner'end of the shaft A, and said rings are secured together by the cross-rods J, which engage ears formed on each ring. The rings are some distance apart and their adjacent inner edges are provided at diametricallyopposite points with inclined or cam surfaces 8 8. Within the track or way formed between the two rings G H the blocks L on the inner ends of the rods K travel.

P is a circular rack secured to the framing B concentric with the ring G, which ring is provided with a spring-pawl, 0, engaging the rack P, so as to hold "the rings G H from rotating on or with the shaft.

From this construction it will be seen that as the shaft A revolves the blocks L will travel around in the track between the two rings, and that when the blocks ride up the inclines or cams s the rods K will be drawn inward, thus turning the rods O and presenting one set of blades, E D, successively fiatwise and feathering the other blades, D E, as shown in Fig. 1. The blades will be positively held in their several positions from turning by the rods and blocks until again successively acted upon by the cams s and turned at right angles to their points.

When revolving in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 1, the blades would propel the vessel forward; but if it were desired to back the vessel the pawl 0 would be disengaged from the rack P and the rings turned one hundred and eighty degrees by means of 80 the lever N on the ring G, and again locked by the pawl and rack, so as to reverse the cams s and cause the blocks L and the rods K to trip or turn the blades D when they reach a horizontal position, but on the opposite side of the shaft from that indicated in Fig. 1, whereby the blades are faced toward the water during the half-revolution above the shaft, instead of below, as in Fig. 1, which causes the boat or vessel to move backward without changing the motion of the engine.

T represents a crank for operating the shaft when power is to be applied to. the blades.

It is manifest that the blades could be mounted on a vertical shaft and that the invention could be applied to submerged waterwheels. The two rings G H could be integral, if desired.

While the invention has been described in connection with the paddle-wheels of a vessel, it will of course be understood that I do not restrict myself to such use, as with slight modification the invention could be used for feathering the blades of windmills and waterwheels, in which case the power would be transmitted through the crank T, instead of being applied to the wheel thereby;

Having-thus described myvinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with the main shaft, of a blade-arm journaled transversely thereon between its ends, and blades on the opposite end of said arm, at right angles to each other, with a relatively stationary cam-track, a rod connected to said arm and turning with the main shaft, and having a block at its inner endtraveling in said cam-track for reversing the position of the blades, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the main shaft, the transverse blade arms journaled thereon at right angles to each other, and each provided at opposite sides of the shaft with blades at right angles to each other, and a crank or lever on said arms adjacent to and at opposite sides of the shaft, with rods at opposite sides of the-shaft and turning therewith, of the relatively-fixed cam-track having diametricallyopposite inclines or cams, and blocks on the inner ends of the said rods traveling in the said track for operating the rods and the blades, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the main shaft,

the blade-arm journaled transversely thereon and having blades at right angles to each other, of the reversible cam-track, a device for looking the same relatively to the shaft, and a con- 3 5 nection between said cam-track and the blades for operating them, substantially as and in the manner set forth.

4. The combination, with the main shaft,- the blade-arm journaled therein and having blades at right angles to each other, of the cam-track formed of connected rings concentrio with the shaft, the circular rack adjacent to said rings, one of which has a pawl engaging said rack, the rod connected to the blade- 5 arm, and the block traveling in the track and connected to the said rod, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the main shaft having transverse apertures at right angles to each other, the arms journaled therein and each having blades at right angles to each other, of the two rings having hubs loosely mounted on the inner end of the main shaft, and having their inner adjacent faces formed with inclines or earns at diametrically-opposite points, transverse rods connecting said rings, a concentric fixed rack, a pawl on one ring engaging said rack, and parallel rods at opposite sides of said shaft, turning therewith and connected at their forward ends to the blade-arms, and the blocks at the inner ends of the said rods traveling in the cam-track between the rings, substantially as set forth.

AMOS H. CARPENTER.

Witn esses:

FRED ELLIOTT, 'M. BLANOHARD. 

